On Thursday evening the government easily won a vote that approved putting off Brexit – which had been due on March 29 – for a short time up to the end of June if May’s deal passes on another attempt. The delay could be longer if May's deal doesn't pass.

It is up to the other 27 European Union countries whether to allow that delay.

A spokesman for the European Commission said an extension to the Brexit deadline "requires the unanimous agreement of all 27 member states... giving priority to the need to ensure the functioning of the EU institutions, and taking into account the reasons for and duration of a possible extension".

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They are expected to approve a short ‘technical extension’, but could put conditions on, or even reject a longer delay. A longer delay would mean the UK must take part in the European Parliament elections in May, and also raises questions over the UK's contributions to the EU budget and its role in EU decisions.

An anti-Brexit remain in the European Union supporter, right, stands next to pro-Brexit supported holding a banner outside the Houses of Parliament in London.Credit:AP

The vote to delay Brexit was won 412 votes to 202.

But it was not an untarnished win for the government. Stephen Barclay, the Brexit Secretary who concluded debate and formally recommended the motion to the house, then voted against it alongside 187 other Conservative MPs: more than half the party.

Cabinet minister David Lidlington said there would be another ‘meaningful vote’ on the divorce deal that May agreed with the European Union in November.

That vote is expected on Monday or Tuesday.

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The Commons has rejected the deal twice, in historic defeats for the government. But the government hopes that the prospect of a long delay to Brexit may persuade wavering Brexiters to back May’s deal.

There are reports they are even prepared for a fourth vote should they lose the third by a small margin.

The divorce deal, technically the Withdrawal Agreement agreed between the UK government and the EU in November, was designed to settle debts, separate EU and UK laws, keep the Ireland border free of new checkpoints.

Its aim was to provide a long, smooth transition into the post-Brexit world for business and industry while a new trade and customs relationship is negotiated.

It was voted down by an alliance of Labour, who believe Brexit should be on different terms, and Brexiters who fear that a 'backstop' insurance policy to keep the Irish border free of checkpoints could leave the UK indefinitely trapped in the EU's customs union.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves the Houses of Parliament in London.Credit:PA

But if Brexit takes place without a Withdrawal Agreement in place it will trigger a period of economic harm and chaos at the UK borders that will hurt thousands of British businesses.

“We will either deliver on the result of the [Brexit] referendum… or we enter into a sustained period of uncertainty,” Lidlington warned. That long delay could “do real damage to the public’s faith in politics and trust in our democracy”, he said.

Debate on the vote saw MPs on all sides criticise their opponents for frustrating progress.

Labour’s Lucy Powell said the government’s management of Brexit had been compared to the Muppets, but she preferred to think of it as "the last scene of Thelma and Louise" with Theresa May in a starring role driving her country off a cliff.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May at center right front row, speaks to lawmakers in the House of Commons. Credit:AP

Tory eurosceptic Sir Christopher Chope said asking for a Brexit date extension would be an "act of national humiliation" and a "gross betrayal" of the people who voted for Brexit in 2016.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay accused Labour of "shredding the votes of 17.4 million people in this country with his turning his back on the referendum".

It was a good night for the May government, which won a series of votes beating back attempts to change the course of Brexit.

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A vote on an amendment calling for another Brexit referendum was defeated by 334 votes to 85. Labour had ordered its MPs to abstain, and 'People's Vote' campaign groups had also declined to support the amendment, judging that it was not yet the right time to push for a new referendum.

Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said a vote on a referendum on Thursday would “won’t work - it’ll ruin our chances of success”.

Labour front bencher Ruth Smeeth resigned from her post in order to vote against a second referendum, one of 18 Labour MPs to do so, and 25 Labour MPs also defied orders and voted in favour of the referendum.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said after the vote that his party supported a public vote at a later stage "as a realistic option to break the deadlock".

Another amendment vote, on a push for parliament to wrest control of Brexit by denying the government control of parliamentary business and holding a series of 'indicative votes' to establish an alternative way forward, was defeated by the narrowest margin, 314 votes to 312.

After the vote Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said all MPs "have a responsibility to work together to find a solution to the crisis facing this country".

May had to accept that her deal, as well as a 'no-deal' Brexit, were no longer viable options, he said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump pointed out that May had ignored his advice on how to manage Brexit.

"I’m surprised at how badly it’s all gone from the standpoint of a negotiation,” he said. “I gave the Prime Minister my ideas on how to negotiate it and I think you would have been successful. She didn’t listen to that and that’s fine - she’s got to do what she’s got to do.

“I think it could have been negotiated in a different manner, frankly. I hate to see everything being ripped apart now.”

Last year May revealed that Trump “told me I should sue the EU - not go into negotiations.”

Trump also commented that a second referendum would be “very unfair to the people who won” the first one.